Independent commissioner Michael Heron has overturned Kagiso Rabada’s two-Test ban, clearing South Africa’s spearhead to play the rest of the series against Australia.
South African barrister Dali Mpofu successfully argued at Monday’s six-hour hearing that the express paceman did not deliberately make contact with Steve Smith’s shoulder during a send-off that marred the second Test.
Rabada had his level-two charge of making “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact”, which had resulted in three demerit points that triggered a two-Test suspension, thrown out.
Heron instead found the world’s top-ranked Test bowler guilty of a minor level-one charge of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, issuing a single demerit point and fine of 25 per cent of his match fee.
The reprieve is a significant boost for the Proteas’ bid for their first home Test series win over Australia since the fall of apartheid.
It means the 22-year-old will retain his place in South Africa’s XI for the third Test, which starts in Cape Town on Thursday.
The series is currently level at 1-1 after Rabada bowled his team to victory in Port Elizabeth, putting on a reverse-swing masterclass while snaring incredible figures of 11-150.
It also sets the stage for another fiery encounter between the rivals. Rabada, who was booked for two send-offs in Port Elizabeth, now has seven demerit points on his rap sheet and any further charge will trigger a two-Test ban.
Smith last month floated the idea of trying to provoke Rabada and it wouldn’t surprise if that transpires at Newlands later this week.
“It could perhaps be a plan to try and get him fired up,” Smith said at the time.
“You never know what some guys do when they’re fired up.”
Heron’s verdict was somewhat of a surprise given Rabada told reporters last week he takes “responsibility for what happened” and needs to stop “letting the team down”.
“The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact,” Heron said in a statement.
“I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact. The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone.
“Rabada will be well aware of the consequences of any further breaches of the code.”
The ruling, which has been accepted by the International Cricket Council, will trigger more debate about the consistency of the sport’s disciplinary system and how best to improve on-field behaviour.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Twitter that common sense had prevailed.
“This is perhaps an opportune moment to remind all players of their responsibilities to maintaining a standard of behaviour,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement.
Rabada was late to the Proteas’ training session on Monday because of the hearing but will now have a standard lead-up to the third Test.
Australia opener Cameron Bancroft suggested on Monday that Australia had been preparing to face Rabada.
sheek
Guest
I like that - cretin!
Blue
Guest
Careful calling Warner a clown. He appears to have a very thin skin.
Try again
Guest
Try using the word cretin instead, derived from the Latin, 'cretino'.
Riccardo
Guest
Pork chop...
Riccardo
Guest
Mate, that's shocking and you should be ashamed.
Jacko
Guest
And Aus should drop Warner...He clearly has no control over his mouth or body movements
Jacko
Guest
And if SA win???
Jacko
Guest
Mathew you are still defending the Warner decision...and so are plenty of others....
Riccardo
Guest
But we have been told that was a fairy-tale on these pages Jake? That the All Blacks are perennial chokers? Whinged their way out of trouble? Typical you say? Loving your sense of humour today mate. Next you'll be telling me that little Davey and Sonny don't colour-code their toothbrushes...
Riccardo
Guest
So true Biltong. Little Davey had no intention of making good on his mouth. But what would transpire should he have been unfettered would have been entertaining indeed. I'm just glad common-sense has prevailed here and that we can get back to the cricket. Should be a fierce contest going forward...
Jacko
Guest
Mathew he was denied the review because it had timed out. There was ZERO charge or punishment for the attempt to get help from the sidelines
Jacko
Guest
OK JamesH what was Warner doing then? Are you biased enough to believe that Warner was just PRETENDING to want to attack DeKock? It was a pantomime was it? Give Warner an Oscar for that acting and give the guys who stopped him getting to Dekock an oscar for best supporting role......I supose if I run my car at a cop but another cop stops me I can say it was just playing?
Jacko
Guest
EB Warner is near suspension levels of points too so be careful what you wish for
Jacko
Guest
David thats silly...Who do they sack when an Umpire gives a not out and its reviewed and seen to be out. 1 has to be wrong. However I do believe Crowe has his "buddies" in world cricket and he needs to be told...get it right or go...
rtp
Guest
Amazing, according to the great legal sports minds, they were comfortably satisfied that Essendon players were *all* guilty of doping even though, if indeed there had been any illicit substances used, there was nowhere near enough for all of them to have taken them. In addition to this, these great legal minds apparently were comfortably satisfied that the Essendon players all deliberately covered up their behaviour even though, literally the only reason any of them were charged was because they agreed to be interviewed and admit they had some kind of an injection (see David Zaharakis). But in this case, a guy charges at another player and screams at his face and in so doing makes contact but the great legal sports minds aren't comfortably satisfied that his actions were intentional. Moral to the story, if a "great legal mind" says something, you can be pretty sure the exact opposite is true. It seems to me that South Africa should be dropping KG. After all, he clearly has no control over his body movements. None. How could you possibly pick a guy to play for your country when all of his bodily movements are involuntary?
Mike
Guest
Use the judicial process, to your advantage, Mmmmmm has a lot to do with sportsmanship, I guess..
JoM
Guest
No I wasn't stating it to be silly at all, but thanks for the compliment
El Loco
Roar Rookie
No, no it doesn't. Judges are overruled all the time on appeal, that's why there is an appeal system. If a single judge is routinely successfully appealed against then it demands action. Otherwise it's just par for the course.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
They won't sack anyone, what an odd question. Assuming due process was followed the ICC will say "thank you gents, job well done".
David Lord
Expert
sheek, the ICC now has a major problem as the governing body employs both the Test match referee Jeff Crowe, and the Independent Commissioner Michael Heron - both Kiwis. Crowe handed down a two-match suspension to firebrand Kagiso Rabada, but on appeak Heron, one of New Zealand's leading QCs, overturned the decision. So who does the ICC sack, both can't be right?